Variable-speed driving mechanism



March V11 1924'.

J. OCKFEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVING MECHANSM Filed Oct. 30, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gauw/woz .JOY/N UcKFf/v March 11 1924.

J. OCKFEN VARIABLE SPEED DRIVING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIII.

l Filed Oct. 30

Patented lidar. il, i924.

naar

TURN OCKFEN, GF SNVIAY, W'ASHINGTON.

VARIABLE-SPEED DRVING MECHANXSM.

Application filed Gctcber 30, 1922.

To all ywhom it may concern.'

Be it known that i, donn Gcnium, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Spanway, 'county of Pierce, and State of lilashington, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Variable-Speed 4Jriving Mechanism, of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to improvements in variable speed driving niechanisrn, more particularly to mechanism of that character use in connection with the driving nicchanisin of automobiles, trucks, or other motor driven vehicles; the principal object of theinvention being to provide means whereby infinite number of diderent speeds between a maximum and minimum may be attained.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a driving mechanism of the above character, embodying in connection with a shaft that may be driven at a incre or less constant speed, a friction wheel that is keyed to the said shaft for longitudinal shifting thereon, and which is adapted to frictionally contact with the inner surface of a conically shaped bell that is lined, at its apen, to a power transmission shaft and which may be caused to rotate faster or slower accordingly as the friction wheel is shifted farther toward or froin the apen of the bell.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of nieans whereby direct driving connection between the driven shaft and the driving shaft may be effected, and whereby at such tiines, the mechanism for frictional driving is rendered inoperative.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism whereby the direction of the driving shaft inay be reversed.

@ther objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts embodied in the mechanism, and in the combination whereby eflicient, durable, safe and satisfactory inechanisin is provided.

ln accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, l have provided the iinproved details of construction the preferred .ioiins of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure .l is a longitudinal, sectional View of a variable speed driving mechanism con- Serial No. 597,823.

structed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially. on the line 2 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is transverse section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure l illustrating the yieldable mounting of the driven shaft.

Figure l is a longitudinal, central section of the mechanism provided for reversing the direction of the driving shaft.

Figure 5 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 in Figure e.

Figure 6 is a detail, sectional view, illustrating an alternative construction of driving bell.

Figure 7 is another alternative construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsl designates what may be the fly wheel of the engine, whereby the vehicle wherein the present mechanism is employed, is driven; this wheel being fixed on the engine crank shaft, designated at 2. Operatively fixed to the wheel is one end of a short shaft 3 which enters a gear housing 4 wherein it has operative driving connection by means of gears presently described, with a shaft 5 which continues therefrom. This latter shaft is rotatably supported adjacent the housing l in a bearing 6 that is mounted in the rear wall 7 of a casing 8 and, at its rearward end, is freely rotatable within the hub portion 9 of a clutch head l0 which, by means of a universal connection as indicated at ll., is operatively fixed to one end of a shaft l2 which entends downwardly at an incline'and, at its lower end, is joined, by a universal connection as at 13, with a shaft 14e which may connect with the vehicle wheels, not shown, through the usual difierential inechanisrn. For better explanation, the shaft 5 will hereinafter be referred to as the driving shaft; the shaft l2 as the driven shaft; and the shaft 14 as the power transmission shaft.

The construction so far describen provides that the shaft 3 will be driven by its conction with the iiy wheel l, and that the aft 5 will be driven from the shaft 3 rough the gearing connection within the ousing 1l, later described.

ln order that there will be provided a variable speed driving connection between the driving shaft and the driven shaft 12, 1 have provided a friction driving wheel, or roller, that is longitudinally shiftable along the shaft 5 and is keyed thereto. rIhis wheel frictionally engages with the inner surface of a metallic, conically shaped bell 16 that is mounted to enclose the rearward end portion of the shaft 5, the clutch 10 and the universal connection 11, and which is fixed, at its apex to one end of a sleeve 18 that is revolubly fitted about the shaft 12. The lower end of the sleeve 18 is equipped with clutch teeth 19 adapted to mesh with clutch teeth 20 ofi-a collar 21 that is slidably keyed to the shaft 12 and which may be moved into and from locked relation with the sleeve. The bell 16 is so mounted that its axial line coincides with the axial line of the shaft 12 and its lower surface lies parallel with the shaft 5 and thereby provides that frictional contact will be maintained therewith, by the wheel 15, at any position the latter may be shifted to within the bell.

The upper end of the sleeve 18, adjacent the bell, is supported within a bearing block which is slidable in a vertical direction within a guide housing 26 between springs 27 and 28 at the upper and lower sides thereof. This yieldable support provides that unless a surface of the cone be pressed tightly against the friction driving wheel 15, there will not be sufficient frictional contact between the two that driving will be effected. The means whereby thc cone may be brought firmly against the friction wheel and held in this position to eiect a desired driving connection, is best illustrated in Figure 1. This means comprises a conically shaped wheel 30 that is mounted at one end of a shaft, or arm, 81 that is supported from a rock shaft 32 that is mounted in the vehicle frame transversely across the upper portion of the cone at its open end.

To the shaft 82, is also fixed a lever 33 that extends downwardly therefrom and, at its lower end, has pivotal connection, as at 34, with a shifting rod 85 which, in turn, at its forward end, is slidable through a guide plate 36 in the housing 8 and, at its rearward end, is fixed to the outer end of a shifting lever 37 whereby the clutch collar 21 on theV shaft 12 may be moved into and from locking relation with the end of the sleeve 18.

The clutch collar in this construction, has an annular groove therein and the lever 37, which is pivotally supported by means of a pin, or bolt, as at 38, has yoke arms 39 extending on opposite sides of the collar and these are provided with inwardly extending pins 40 at their ends which project within the groove, sothat shifting of the lever by t ifieasee Mounted transversely of the housing 8, Y

above the shaft 5, is a rock shaft 43 and, fixed thereto, is an upwardly extending foot lever 44 and a downwardly extending lever 45 which has pivotal connection, at its lower end as at 46, with the rod 35. At the upper end of the foot lever 44 is a pedal 47 having a ratchet arm 48 extended therefrom, the teeth of which are adapted to engage a fixed tooth 49 to retain the shifting rod 35 at set positions against the pressure of the spring 42. liVith this construction, when it is desired to veffect a driving connection between the friction wheel 15 and the bell, the foot pedal is pushed forwardly and this effectsd a rearward movement of the rod 35 which causes the clutch 21 to engage the sleeve 18 andthe wheel 80 to be pressed against the upper portion of the bell, so that the latter will be held tightly against the friction wheel 15 and driving connection thereby provided.

The means provided for shifting the friction wheel 15 along the shaft 5 to effect the different driving speeds for the shaft 12, consists of a lever 50 that is pivotally supported from a transverse shaft 51 supported from the vehicle frame. At its lower end, this lever is connected with the forward end of a link 52 which, at its rearward end, has a yoke 53, the arms of which are pivotally connected with the opposite side of ring 54 that is revelubly fitted within an annular groove 55 that is formed within an extended hub portion 56 of the wheel 15. By forward or rearward shifting of the upper end of the lever 50, there will be effected aninward or 'outward shifting of the wheelY 15 within the bell and this, when held in driving contact with the bell, will effect 'the diderent driving speeds; it being apparent that 'the farther toward the apex of the bell that the wheel is shifted, the faster will be the driving of the shaft 12. 1

In order that the driving wheel 15 may be retained at the different positions of adjustment, 1 have provided the lever 50 with a pivotally mounted locking dog 58 which is actuated by means of a spring pressed rod 59, mounted on the lever into contact with `a notched sector G0 fixed to a plate 61 that is pivotally mounted on the cross shaft 51. One end of this sector 50 is joined, by means of a connecting link 62, with .the foot lever 44, so that it moves therewith, but since the CAD insonne pedal is normally locked against movement, the sector is likewise normally stationary and, when the lever 50 is locked thereto, the driving wheel l5 will be retained at Set position.

ln order that a direct driving connection between the shafts 5 and 9 may be effected, l. have provided a conically tapered surface on the inner end ol the friction wheel 15, and this is adapted to be nioved into frictional driving contact with a cti-operating conically formed surface 66 on the clutch head l0. This connection is made by throwing the upper end of the lever 50 to its lorward liinit, as shown in dotted lines in Figure l, so that the locking dog of the lever will be seated within the last, or rearward, notch of the sector 60. rlhe foot pedal e7 is then released so that the spring l2 throws the rod 35 forwardly and this, by nieans oi" mechanism previously described, shifts the collar 2l to disconnect it from the sleeve i8 and, at the saine tirnc, the lever 33 is shifted lor-.vardly to cause the wheel 30 to move downwardly to release the driving oonnection between the wheel l5 and the cone, and, the connection provided between the oot lever A and the sector 80, the latter is inoved rearwardly so that the clutch surface ol the wheel will be pressed tightly within the clutch l0 and a direct driving connection with the shaiit l2 is niade.

To provide for a reversal of the driving direction-orn the shaft 5, l have provided mechanism in connection with the gear housing fl which is best shown in Figures a and 5. ln this construction, the housing l is preferably rnade in two compleinental sections that are bolted together about the adacent ends or" the alined shafts 3 and 5; the being i l noted to rotate independently each other within the housing. ln transy'erse section, the housing 4 is circular and has a bra ie band surface .70 formed thereon about which is fitted a brake band 7l. rlhe ends oi this band fastened to shoes l2 and and the shoe 73 is lined to a cross beam ll of the vehicle lira-rnc. A bolt Z5 extends is inounted about the bolt, whereshoes are yieldingly urged apart. i?? is threaded onto one end of the bolt anc le 78 is i'ixed to the opposite c Lcreci, and this lever has a cani surring against a co-operating surshoe T8, whereby forward movein lever el'ects the tightening of the band about the housing to prevent it from rotating.

Keyed to the inner end of the shalt 3, is a bevel gear 8O and, keyed onto the adjacent end or" 'the shaft 5, is a siinilar bevel gear 8l. Pins 82 are mounted in the housing d to ertend between the gears and 8l, and,

mounted on these pins, are gears 83 which inesh with both the gears 80 and 8l. el clutch sleeve 85 is slida ale along the shalt 5 into the housing, and, at its inner end, has teeth 85 that are adapted to loclringly engage with siinilar teeth 85 on the hub portion of the gear 80. Flhe sleeve rotates with the gear 8l and is normally' urged inwardly within the housing d by ineens of spring 86 that is coiled about tie shaft and bears against the outer end of the sleeve and ti e bearing (l, it its outer end, this sleeve has an annular groove 87, and a shifting pedal 88 is mounted upon the transverse shaft 4:3 and, at its lower end, has a yolze 89" with i if extended on opposite sides of the sleeve and with pins at their ends extending into the groove 817 oi2 the sleeve, whereby, upon forward inoveinent et the foot pedal 88, the sleeve be shifted outwardly so that its inner end will disconnect lronr the gear 80. The lever is joined to the Jr'oot pedal 88 by nieans or' a link 90; the linlr having lined connection lith the foot pedal 88 and a pin an sot connection with the lever 78 whereby forward rnovenient cie the foot pedal is permit ted before the lever Z 8 is actuated. This is provided in order that the sleeve niay be disconnected lroin the 'ear 8O before the brake band will be ti htened about the housing.

lll/'ith this construction, the sleeve is normally retained locked to the gear 80, and the bralre band is loosened which permits the housing e to revolve freely. rlhis provides a direct driving connection between the sha1-cts 3 and 5, since the gear 8O is keyed to the shalt 3 and the sleeve locked with gear 8l which is keyed to the shaft 5.

lr it is desired to reverse the direction of the shaft 5, the loot 88 is shifted forwardly. This withdraws the sleeve from the gear 80 and, at the saine tinie, tightens the brake band about the housing so that the latter may not revolve. Driving is then efliected through the shaft 3, gear 8O and the idler gears 83, which causes tie 8l to rotate oppositely to the si 3.

l-t is apparent that with the device so constructed, any desired speed between inanirnuin and niiniinuin may be obtained by shifting the friction driving wheel l5 inwardly or outwardly within the bell.

lt is also apparent that a direct driving connection between the shai'ts 5 and niay be obtained by shifting the wheel l5 into driving connection with the clutch l0 and that, at the saine tiine, the rictional driving niechanisin will be inoperative.

l'n Figure 6, 'l have illustrated an alternative construction for a variable and direct driving connection, to be used in case the shalt sections 5 and l2 are in alineinent.

ln this construction, a clutch head 10 is fixed at the forward end of a sleeve 10 that is slidable over the adjacent ends of these two shaft sections; the sleeve 10 being keyed `to the shaft section 12. llotatable on the sleeve 10 is a collar 18 which is adapted to be locked to the sleeve 10 by means of a clutch collar 21 which engages with the end thereof similarly as described in the preferred construction. The apex end of the bell 1li is connected with the sleeve 18 by means of a universal connection as shown at 11. Also, mounted on the shaft section 5, is a clutch 95 which is adapted to be moved into and from driving connection with the clutch head l0 by means of a connecting key 9G which is iiXed at one end to the clutch 95, and. at its opposite end to a shifting collar 97 located on the shaft 5 forwardly of the driving wheel 15. lt is intended that this collar 97 be connected, by suitable mechanism, with the foot pedal 44; in such manner that, when the latter is released, driving connection between the wheel 15 and the bell 16 will be discontinued and movement rearward of the foot pedal, due to the pressure of the spring 42, will shift the collar 9 rearwardly, and, due to the connecting key 96 that is slidable within the shaft 5, the clutch 95 will be engaged with the head 10 to elfect a direct driving connection for the vehicle. ln this arrangement, the parts operate automatically in such manner that, when the variable driving mechanism is released by the foot pedal, the direct connection immediately goes into effect.

ln Figure 7, l have shown another alternative construction, wherein the driving member 15 is mounted, by means of a universal connection indicated at 98, upon a shifting sleeve 99 which would be connected similarly, as before described, to the shifting lever 50. Y

lt is apparent that various changes in the details of construction in both devices could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and, for this reason, it is not desired that the device be limited only to the details of construction herein illus tra-ted.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A transmission mechanism comprising in combination, a driving shaft, a eriven shaft, a conica-ily shaped, rotatably mounted bell, means for effecting a driving connection between the bell and the driven shaft, a friction wheel keyed for longitudinal shifting on the driving shaft and adapted for frictional driving contact with the interior of the said bell, means for shifting the friction wheel to obtain different driving speeds, means for effecting a direct driving i ,masse connection between the driving and driven shafts and means operating automatically te. release the driving connection between the bell and driven shaft when such direct driving connection is made.

2, ik transmission mechanism comprising, in combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch head fixed to the driven shaft, a sleeve on said shaft, a conically shaped bell lixed to the sleeve, a shiftable clutch keyed to the driven shaft to be moved into and from driving connection with the sleeve, a friction wheel keyed on the driving shaft and normally in frictional driving contact with the inner surface of said bell whereby the latter may be revolved, means for shifting the wheel on the driving shaft and into driving contact with the clutch head to elfectdirect connection with the driven shaft, and means for disengaging the sleeve clutch when such direct connection made.

3. A transmission mechanism comprising, in combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch head fixed to the driven shaft, a sleeve revoluble on the driven shaft, a conically shaped bell fixed to the sleeve, a clutch slidably keyed to the driven shaft, a shifting lever for the clutch, a friction wheel slidably keyed to the driving shaft and having frictional driving contact with the interior of the bell, means for shifting the friction wheel toward and from the apex of the bell and into driving contact with the clutch head to eifect direct driving connection with the driven shaft, a control pedal, a rod connecting said pedal with the clutch shifting lever, a tightening wheel for holding the bell against the friction wheel and lever 'connecting the tightening wheel support and sail rod whereby movement of the rod which releases the clutch from the sleeve moves the tightening wheel to release the connection between the friction wheel and bell. n

i. il transmission mechanism comprising in combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch head fixed to the driven shaft, a. sleeve revolnble on the driven shaft, a yieldable support for the driven shaft,V a conical shaped bell fixed to the sleeve and extending coaxially with the driven shaft, a clutch slidably keyed on the driven shaft,

a shifting lever for the clutch, a frictionV wheel slidably keyed on the driving shaft and adapted for frictional driving Contact with the interior of the bell, a pivotally mounted lever operatively connected for shifting the friction wheel toward and from the apex of the bell and into driving contact with the clutch head to edect a direct driving conection between the driving and driven shafts, a control pedal, a rod connecting the said pedal and the clutch shifting lever, a pivotaiiy mounted locking sector movable with the csntroi pedal, a locking maiis 0n iiiiie fric-101i Wheei shifting leve? engageable with the loiing Sector to etain 'iie Said 'Wheel it dieent pssitioiis oi" adjustment, a tightening wheel for holding the beii and ricion Wheel in driving Contact and a. commi lever 'foi the tightening Wheel Leave 'eis-ases the frictionai driving cannesi between h@ bell and Gaioil Wheel. Signed ai Seaiie, Wvashmgton, this 23rd day of October, 1922.

JQHN CKFEN. 

